This article examines key evidence on intervention effectiveness late poststroke; provides discussion on how this evidence impacts stroke rehabilitation at a clinical and national level; and explores strategies that should improve the way in which chronic stroke is addressed internationally.
DromerickAWLangCEBirkenmeierRL. Very early constraint-induced movement during stroke rehabilitation (VECTORS): a single-center RCT. Neurology2009; 73:195–201.
2.
DuncanPWGoldsteinLBMatcharDDivineGWFeussnerJ. Measurement of motor recovery after stroke. Outcome assessment and sample size requirements. Stroke1992; 23:1084–9.
3.
CramerSC. The EXCITE Trial: a major step forward for restorative therapies in stroke. Stroke2007; 38:2204–5.
4.
LoACGuarinoPDRichardsLG. Robot-assisted therapy for long-term upper-limb impairment after stroke. N Engl J Med2010; 362:19.
5.
Duncan PW, Sullivan KJ, Behrman AL, et al. for the LEAPS Investi-gative Team. Body-weight supported treadmill rehabilitation after stroke. N Engl J Med2011; 364:2026–36.
6.
VisintinMBarbeauHKorner-BitenskyNMayoNE. A new approach to retrain gait in stroke patients through body weight support and treadmill stimulation. Stroke1998; 29:1122–8.
7.
ChuKSEngJJDawsonASHarrisJEOzkaplanAGylfadóttirS. Water-based exercise for cardiovascular fitness in people with chronic stroke: a randomized controlled trial. Arch Phys Med Rehabil2004; 85:870–4.
8.
PangMYCEngJJDawsonASMcKayHAHarrisJE. A community-based fitness and mobility exercise program for older adults with chronic stroke: a randomized, controlled trial. J Am Geriatr Soc2005; 53:1667–74.
9.
LeeMKilbreathSLSinghMF. Comparison of effect of aerobic cycle training and progressive resistance training on walking ability after stroke: a randomized sham exercise-controlled study. J Am Geriatr Soc2008; 56:976–85.
10.
QuaneyBMBoydLAMcDowdJM. Aerobic exercise improves cognition and motor function poststroke. Neurorehabil Neural Repair2009; 23:879–85.
11.
MayoNKorner-BitenskyNBeckerRGeorgesP. Predicting falls among patients in a rehabilitation hospital. Am J Phys Med Rehabil1989; 68:139–46.
12.
MyersAHYoungYLangloisJA. Prevention of falls in the elderly. Bone1996; 18(Suppl.):87S–101S.
13.
PageSJSistoSLevinePMcGrathRE. Efficacy of modified constraint-induced movement therapy in chronic stroke: a single-blinded randomized controlled trial. Arch Phys Med Rehabil2004; 85:14–8.
14.
LinKChangYWuCChenY. Effects of constraint-induced therapy versus bilateral arm training on motor performance, daily functions, and quality of life in stroke survivors. Neurorehabil Neural Repair2009b; 23:441–8.
15.
WuC-YChuangL-LLinKCChenHTsayP. Randomized trial of distributed constraint-induced therapy versus bilateral arm training for the rehabilitation of upper-limb motor control and function after stroke. Neurorehabil Neural Repair2011; 25:130–9.
16.
PageSJLevinePLeonardASzaflarskiJPKisselaBM. Modified constraint-induced therapy in chronic stroke: results of a single-blinded randomized controlled trial. Phys Ther2008; 88:333–40.
17.
LinKWuCLiuJS. A randomized controlled trial of constraint-induced movement therapy after stroke. Acta Neurochir Suppl2008; 101:61–4.
18.
GauthierLVTaubEPerkinsCOrtmannMMarkVWUswatteG. Remodeling the brain: plastic structural brain changes produced by different motor therapies after stroke. Stroke2008; 39:1520–5.
19.
LinKCWuCYLiuJSChenYHsuC. Constraint-induced therapy versus dose-matched control intervention to improve motor ability, basic/extended daily functions, and quality of life in stroke. Neurorehabil Neural Repair2009; 23:160–5.
20.
LinKCChungH-YWuC-Y. Constraint-induced therapy versus control intervention in patients with stroke. A functional magnetic resonance imaging study. Am J Phys Med Rehabil2010; 89:177–85.
21.
SuputtitadaASuwanwelaNCTumviteeS. Effectiveness of constraint-induced movement therapy in chronic stroke patients. J Med Assoc Thai2004; 87:1482–90.
22.
HendersonCAMannsPJ. Group modified constraint-induced therapy (mCIMT) in a clinical setting. Disabil Rehabil2012; 85:14–8. (Epub ahead of print).
23.
SmaniaNGandolfiMPaolucciS. Reduced-intensity modified constraint-induced movement therapy versus conventional therapy for upper extremity rehabilitation after stroke: a multicenter trial. Neurorehabil Neural Repair2012; 26:1035–45. [Epub ahead of print].
24.
WesterbergHJacobaeusHHirvikoskiT. Computerized working memory training after stroke – a pilot study. Brain Inj2007; 21:21–9.
25.
VallatCAzouviPHardissonHMeffertRTessierCPradat-DiehlP. Rehabilitation of verbal working memory after left hemisphere stroke. Brain Inj2005; 19:1157–64.
26.
ManDWSoongWYTarnSFHui-ChanCWY. A randomized clinical trial study on the effectiveness of a tele-analogy-based problem-solving programme for people with acquired brain injury (ABI). NeuroRehabil2006; 21:205–17.
27.
HondaT. Rehabilitation of executive function impairments after stroke. Top Stroke Rehabil1999; 1:15–22.
28.
RandDWeissPLKatzN. Training multitasking in a virtual supermarket: a novel intervention after stroke. Am J Occup Ther2009; 63:535–42.
29.
SchweizerTALevineBRewilakD. Rehabilitation of executive functioning after focal damage to the cerebellum. Neurorehabil Neural Repair2008; 22:72–7.
30.
FishJManlyTEmslieHEvansJJWilsonBA. Compensatory strategies for acquired disorders of memory and planning: differential effects of a paging system for patients with brain injury of traumatic versus cerebrovascular aetiology. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry2008; 79:930–5.
31.
EvansJJEmslieHWilsonBA. External cueing systems in the rehabilitation of executive impairments of action. J Int Neuropsychol Soc1998; 4:399–408.
32.
FishJManlyTWilsonBA. Long-term compensatory treatment of organizational deficits in a patient with bilateral frontal lobe damage. J Int Neuropsychol Soc2008; 14:154–63.
33.
ElmanRJBernstein-EllisE. The efficacy of group communication treatment in adults with chronic aphasia. J Speech Hear Res1999; 42:411–9.
34.
KaganABlackSEDuchanJFSimmons-MackieNSquareP. Training volunteers as conversation partners using ‘supported conversation for adults with aphasia’ (SCA): a controlled trial. J Speech Lang Hear Res2001; 44:624–37.
35.
Widén-HolmqvistLde Pedro-CuestaJHolmM. Stroke rehabilitation in Stockholm. Basis for late intervention in patients living at home. Scand J Rehabil Med1993; 25:173–81.
36.
British Heart Foundation. 2012 Available at http://www.bhf.org.uk/ (accessed 5 June 2012).